Most beauty queens would go pale when asked about cosmetic surgery. But face lifts, breast implants or other "body work" are the requirements for contestants of the Miss Plastic Hungary pageant.

"Ever had plastic surgery to become beautiful? Are you proud of your body? Would you like to put yourself to the test?," says the website www.missplastichungary.hu which advertises the pageant, planned for October 9.

A Hungarian company is planning to stage the beauty contest, which it says is the first of its kind, for women who have had cosmetic surgery in a bid to do away with the stereotypes still attached to beauty operations in Hungary.

The contest is open to women aged 18-30 or above 30 in the "dame" category. More than 100 entrants have already signed up.

But a plain botox injection will not suffice.

"The entry requirement is a surgical procedure done under general or local anesthesia," said Reka Bodis, press director of the pageant.

"Unfortunately, people in Hungary are still rather negative about ladies who have had (cosmetic) surgery and there are also a lot of stereotypes going about," Bodis said. "We are not seeking to promote extremely large breasts and the like."

She said the idea first came up about 10 years ago, but back then the pageant could not take place for lack of what she called "sufficient material."

"In those days, there weren't that many beautiful girls who have had plastic surgery, but now we can almost say (the idea to have such a contest) is quite natural," Bodis said.

Affordable prices and the quality of service available at private clinics have recently made Hungary a popular destination for cosmetic surgery patients.

Medical tourism website Treatment Abroad, which caters to the needs of British clients, touts Hungary as offering "a range of excellent healthcare which visitors can take advantage of at a much lower price than in the UK."

It says a face or neck lift can cost around 5,000 sterling in Britain, whereas in Hungary it costs a mere 2,000 excluding flights and lodging.

While the Miss Plastic pageant is primarily aimed at Hungarian contestants, foreigners with a residence in Hungary may also apply.

"The whole thing is about harmony, that's what the contest seeks to emphasize," Bodis said.

"Let's not forget that there are ladies who have had new perspectives open up for them thanks to plastic surgery, who could get rid of their complexes with an operation and can now have a more complete life."

More Update:Mega boob implants caused Blonde Alexandra Horvath, 23 to trip over her high heels.

The silicone boob implants caused Alexandra to lose her balance as she tried to walk in her high heels

The favourite in this weekend's Miss Plastic beauty contest has been toppled - after her mega boob implants caused her to trip over her high heels.

Blonde Alexandra Horvath, 23, tore a ligament when she fell after passing the breast examination stage of the contest with flying colours.

Alexandra had joined 19 other finalists for the oddball contest to find the world's top plastic surgeon in Hungary where low prices and modern clinics attract tens of thousands of patients from all over the world every year.

The silicone boob implants caused Alexandra to lose her balance as she tried to walk in her high heels - tearing a ligament and ending up in hospital.

Alexandra had just got through the breast examination stage where the top docs had congratulated her proud surgeon Dr Tamas Rozsos on the lack of any surgical scars - and was demonstrating her superstar qualities on the catwalk when the accident happened.She toppled over and tore a ligament in her foot. Onlooker Laszlo Feher said: "Everyone was admiring her bodywork and then she started to topple - no-one was near enough to reach her and she fall badly. She was taken to hospital by ambulance."

A pal said: "She had not got used to the extra weight on top and her new hair extensions got in her eyes - she just lost her balance and tore a ligament in her foot badly."